Author: D.S. Cook
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A Story for the Covenant Christian Kids – By D.S Cook for Apostoic.com In the rolling countryside, there once lived twin brothers, Jerry and Jankerson. They were fond of one another; they played together well, shared their friends, and both were strong and healthy. One day, when they were eight, their mother said, “Boys, I…
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By D.S. Cook for Apostoic.com As a bonus “article” this week, I am bringing you a chance encounter: a debate with unknown person on Facebook. It was a mostly friendly chat and remained respectful, absent any of the name-calling, ad hominem attacks, and red herrings that we refer to as “debate” these days in comment…
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By D.S. Cook for Apostoic.com In a barren and desolate wilderness there once dwelt three men, each fated to meet the trials appointed to mortal existence after his own fashion. The sun in that place beat down with unbendable hatred, and the footprints of wanderers with no names or records marked the trodden paths. The…
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Today, I’d like to expound on a metaphor that was presented some time ago in my parable, the Lazy Spinner. I don’t know that it’s a phenomenal metaphor. It has shortcomings and a limited scope. But, it’s been useful to me in parenting my children, husbanding my wife, and in dealing with interpersonal tension. I’d…
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I identify publicly with Stoic philosophy in my social media bios. In my case, this identification is transparently partial; Christ first. He is the way, the truth, and the life. Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved (Acts…
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By D.S. Cook for Apostoic.com An orchard town in the hills was famous for it’s rich harvest. Each year, the people worked together to bring in their abundant apples and carried them carefully into the storehouse against the winter cold. Every autumn, the town would choose one man to guard the building where the community…
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In the summer of 1807, a young Scotsman named Robert Morrison stepped off the ship Trident onto the bustling docks of Macau, China. His heart was full of a burning desire, a deep impetus of conviction that he could not ignore. His heart pounding, the heavy sensation of being alone pressed down upon him. Nervousness,…
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As some of you may know, I have been developing an app called “Logic Slap.” Several of my regular readers have been helping out as beta testers, and others are eagerly awaiting its full release. But most are probably wondering why I would spend my time and money developing such a thing. In this short…
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In the thirtieth year of his reign, Emperor Liang sat upon the alabaster throne in the Hall of Balanced Scales. Two provincial governors had journeyed a thousand miles to lay their quarrel at his feet. Governor Wei of the fertile Riverlands entered first. His robes were silk, his retinue numerous, hearty, and gracious. Behind him…
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The internet thrives on outrage. It is the fuel that keeps us scrolling, returning again and again to the digital coliseum. With my mouth I profess to hate what the internet has become; a polarized political battlescape of shrieking ideologs. But do I really? A contradiction reveals itself in my actions. If I truly abhor…
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In a vast and ancient kingdom, there once stood a strong fortress, perched high upon a hill. Its towering stone walls were a steadfast guardian over the valleys below, it’s principled governance and dignified generosity sheltered the poor and the sojourner for generations. But the wise and beloved king, whose words and deeds inspired songs…
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#bondibeachattack In Parts I and II, we established that nature mocks incompatible diversity, and moral relativism was exposed as a tactical repositioning of moral law, dressed up as enlightenment. Pretend otherwise, and we are not being tolerant. We are fools rolling out the red carpet for the dragon that will devour us. Well, dear reader,…
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#bondibeachattack In the previous article we saw that nature has zero tolerance for incompatible diversity. Oil Separates from water, ice cannot coexist with lava, wolves and sheep do not negotiate shared pens. To label this iron law a mere failure of tolerance is not just silly, it’s the tantrum of a child who believes shouting…
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#Bondibeachattack A very strange theory indeed has achieved the status of a secular catechism in modernity. “What is our strength?” The teacher’s shadow looms over the school desk. “Diversity!” quips the young disciple. “Diversity is our strength!” But as we repeat this dogma with religious fervor, little hearts full of the dreams of an A+…
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In a certain prosperous land, a king was moved by sympathy for the poor. Knowing that not all of his subjects were charitable of their own accord, he decided to centralize and mandate kindness. He built a great Alms-House to be filled with gold. “My kingdom will provide for its neediest!” The well-meaning king declared.…
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The Nominal Conquest Fallacy: Definition, Examples, and Why We Need This New Logical Fallacy in 2025
First published: 3 December 2025Canonical URL: https://apostoic.com/nominal-conquest-fallacy/Author: Daniel Spencer Cook – Apostoic.com Nominal Conquest Fallacy – Formal DefinitionProposed name: Nominal Conquest (Latin nominalis “pertaining to a name” + conquestio “seizure”)Also known as: Fallacy of Nominal Conquest, Definitional Conquest, Lexical Conquest Fallacy Logical Form First Academic Definition (2025)The Nominal Conquest Fallacy occurs when an ideological movement deliberately…
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Once on a farm next to a busy highway, there lived a pompous rooster named Squawkington, who fancied himself a great thinker and philosopher. He was famous for his loud and annoying crow, which sounded nothing at all like a rusty gate slowly murdering a stuck pig. He was also famous for his unshakeable belief…
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In the province of Valdris, Duke Engleton ruled from a stone keep on the hill. He was a good and kind ruler, careful of the lives under his watch. His dearest friend was a servant, Rowan, who managed the duke’s fine stables and kept his council. Rowan’s wife had died in childbirth, leaving him an…
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In the half-light of dawn, Viktor trudges through the frozen mud. His feet are raw with blisters from ragged shoes that do not fit, handed down from a former occupant with no more need. He shudders at the promise of the day’s forced labor. Victor has been a prisoner in the Nazi concentration camps for…
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In a trading village in the windy plains, Caius the blacksmith was a man of fire and iron. A handsome man with bright eyes, a charming smile, and strength born of a lifetime of physical labor, he was the envy of the village lads and ever the subject of interest for the young ladies that…
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Elderglen’s pride was its nightly hymn. Every evening since the first stone was laid, they gathered in the square and sang the Truthsong, rooted deeply in the faith that bound them together. “We speak what is, we speak what’s real. Our voices joined, the truth we seal.” They sang of the blessings that kept them…
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The Proletariat Assembly Line On September 10, a young man sat on a chair in front of a crowd at Utah University, his voice amplified in passionate defense of his principles. As he had done so many times before, Charlie Kirk had come to discuss and debate… to hear the best arguments of those who…
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Arguments reveal more than truth, they reveal the character. Will I be arrogantly right, humbly wrong, or the inverse? Will I lose while winning, or win while losing? Here is my recent counsel to myself, offered up for your critique and possible benefit. On insignificant arguments:When certain you’re right, don’t let it show. At least…
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As a faithful follower of Christ and a devotee to His Church, I am sometimes questioned on my appreciation for the philosophy of Stoicism, and my addition of Stoic practice to my daily pursuit of goodness, justice, truth, mercy, and temperance. These questions are generally not reproaches, but genuine curiosity as to the fitness of…
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The Rich and The Poor It is easy for a man who has much to criticize the habits of one who has little, and easy for a poor man to criticize the wealthy for the usage of what he has. It is not common to hear the poor criticizing the poor, or the rich the…